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Prison ordered in crash that killed Eden couple

Laurie Ritger
Published 8:28 p.m. CT March 14, 2014

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Daniel Shea is led from the courtroom by a Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputy Friday after receiving a five-year prison sentence on two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. Shea pleaded guilty to the charges stemming from a September 2012 crash on Highway 45 that killed Paul and Joanna Grahl and seriously injured their young daughter, Esther.
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FOND DU LAC – Heartache. A Fond du Lac courtroom was filled with it Friday as a Campbellsport man was sentenced to five years in prison and 25 years of extended supervision and probation for a 2012 crash that killed Paul Grahl, a local businessman, and his wife, Joanna, and seriously injured their daughter.

Daniel Shea, 25, of N588 Alpine Lane, a college graduate with no prior criminal offenses, looked forward as the sentence was read by Fond du Lac County Circuit Court Judge Gary Sharpe Friday morning. Loud sobs were heard as the reality of the prison term sunk in. Moments later, Shea, clean-cut and in a suit and tie, waved a tiny motion goodbye toward his family as he was led from the courtroom by a Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office deputy.

In September, Shea pleaded guilty to a pair of charges of homicide by intoxicated use a vehicle related to the crash on Highway 45 in the town of Auburn. He had posted a $50,000 cash bond after charges were filed and has not been in custody until Friday.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to say sorry enough,” Shea said, crying and shaking as he turned and faced members of the Grahl family and their friends in a packed courtroom. “I don’t expect you to forgive me for something so tragic. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself. I pray for your family every day and every night before I go to bed — for Paul and Joanna and for Esther. I am truly sorry for what I’ve done.”

Paul Grahl was the founder and owner of HT Enterprises of Eden.

Sharpe said the seriousness of the offense called for prison time. He said a message needed to be sent that binge drinking and drunken driving have got to stop. Shea had traveled to five taverns in Washington County over the course of five hours before the crash.

Deputy District Attorney Dennis Krueger asked for 10 years in prison. The maximum penalty is 15 years prison on each count.

Shea’s attorney, Kirk Everson, requested the sentence recommended in the pre-sentence investigation: a probation term with a one-year jail term.

Sharpe said the most significant factor in his mind was the level of intoxication. Shea tested at .218 blood alcohol content, nearly 2 ½ times the legal limit of .08, about two hours after the crash.

Shea told officers he had been drinking at taverns in West Bend, Slinger, Hartford and Rubicon. A Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office deputy said Shea told him he had five beers, two mixed drinks and two shots between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Shea told an officer he was reading through text messages prior to the crash and probably was texting, according to the complaint. He said he never saw a vehicle coming and probably crossed the center line. He said he remembered a “big crash,” according to the criminal complaint.

“All three experts agree that prior to the crash, Mr. Shea’s vehicle was in the northbound lane (of Highway 45) traveling southbound,” Deputy District Attorney Dennis Krueger said at a plea hearing last fall. “The victim’s vehicle was traveling northbound in the southbound lane at impact. All (evidence showed the Grahl vehicle) was steering to avoid Mr. Shea’s vehicle.”